Unemployment Benefits for African Americans

Unemployment in America is a concern that most people of working age will have at one time or another. Having a steady job that will pay the bills is crucial to surviving and ensuring that all of your basic needs are being met. When someone is unemployed it can be a stressful time that will create challenges when trying to pay for anything and make ends meet. The good news is that there are unemployment benefits for African Americans and others who need the help.

African Americans tend to have a higher unemployment rate than other demographics in this country. In fact, the Brookings Institute reports that black men have the highest unemployment rate of any race or gender group. They report that some of the major reasons why include lower education attainment, discrimination, worse health, and the incarceration rates.

Unemployment Benefits Explained

For those African Americans who find themselves unemployed and need of assistance, they can turn to unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits are a temporary benefit assistance that is paid to people who are between jobs. There are some rules that go along with the program and things that you have to meet in order to qualify for the assistance.

Unemployment benefits are a state issue, not a federal one. This means that it is a program that is offered by each state government. This also means that the qualifications and rules may vary some state-by-state. If it were a federal government program the rules would likely be the same around the country, but since it is determined by each state, you have to check with your specific state to see what the rules and qualifications are regarding unemployment benefits.

Unemployment is a program that pays people a monetary benefit for a short period of time if they are between jobs. However, you have to be between jobs through no fault of your own. This means that if you were fired for missing work or not doing a good job then you may not qualify for getting the benefits. If, however, you lose your job through no fault of your own, then there is a good chance you may qualify for receiving the benefit.

When You Can Receive Unemployment Benefits

Since you can usually only receive unemployment payments if you are between jobs through no fault of your own, you may be wondering when this would happen. There are numerous scenarios that may lead to you being losing your job through no fault of your own. These could include such things as:

• The company you work for went out of business.
• The position you were in was eliminated or the company downsized.
• The job you were doing was temporary and has come to an end.
• A recession has led to the company’s business not doing as well and they need to lay off or get rid of some employees.
• The company has invested in technology that will replace some of the work that you do.
• They have moved your job to another country, such as Mexico, so they can save money on labor costs.

It is important to keep in mind that if you quit your job voluntarily, for whatever reason, you will most likely not qualify for unemployment benefits. Only those who lost their job due to no fault of their own can qualify. If you feel the way your job ended is controversial and that you should qualify for the benefits it is a good idea to still apply for them. There may be times when the employer and employee disagree about whose idea it was to leave the job.

Applying for and Obtaining Unemployment Benefits

There are many types of situations that can lead to you being unemployed through no fault of your own. When this happens it can be a stressful time, because you don’t know how long it will take you to find another job, how long before your first paycheck at the next job, and if you will be able to keep up on your bills and making ends meet in the interim. That is precisely why unemployment benefits are so valuable.

To obtain unemployment benefits you will need to apply for them. It is not something that will just automatically happen once you have lost a job. You will need to contact the unemployment office in your state, and apply for the program. In most states, you have to earn a certain amount of money at the job before you are qualified to get unemployment benefits. This could be $3,400 or more before taxes, but the amount varies by state. In some states it is more about the number of months you were working prior to applying. Check with your specific state unemployment office for the details for qualifying.

Once you apply for unemployment benefits in your state they will review your case to see if you qualify for the funds. If you do not you will be notified and you can appeal the decision if you still feel you should be able to get them. If you are approved by the state to receive them, they will inform you how much you will receive and for how long you can receive the benefit.

The amount you will receive in unemployment benefits varies by state and is impacted by how much you were earning. For example, in the state of Florida, residents can receive $275 per week if they qualify for unemployment. Those approved will be able to get it for a set amount of time, such as 19 weeks, while they look for another job. The unemployment office may require that you inform them each week where you applied for a job or went for interviews. The goal is to keep you having money coming in while you between jobs.

If you have been steadily working and lost your job through no fault of your own you should be able to get unemployment benefits. Check with your state for the details on qualifying and applying.

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